Francis Duru laments decline of Igbo epic movies in Nigerian cinema

By Damilola Akinwale –

Veteran Nollywood actor, Francis Duru, has expressed concern over the declining presence of Igbo-centric movies in contemporary Nigerian cinema, urging Igbo filmmakers and investors to learn from the strategies adopted by their Yoruba counterparts.

Duru spoke during an interview with Gbam, aired on the Yan Content Factory YouTube channel on Friday, while responding to questions on the dominance of Yoruba producers in major cinema release windows and global streaming platforms such as Netflix.

He attributed the decline of Igbo-themed productions partly to what he described as failure to adapt, invest strategically and protect regional stories, urging Igbo filmmakers to prioritise the preservation of their cultural heritage through storytelling.

The actor said Yoruba filmmakers had deliberately protected their cultural heritage through collaboration and effective mobilisation of capital to fund productions, urging their Igbo counterparts to adopt similar strategies rather than resent their success.

Duru also lamented the underutilisation of prominent historical figures and rich literary traditions from Igbo culture, noting that filmmakers from other regions were increasingly taking up the task of telling those stories.

Speaking on the factors responsible for the decline, he said many early pioneers entered film production with a business mindset rather than genuine passion for the art. He added that a lack of professionalism contributed to their loss of influence as the industry evolved.

The veteran also criticised what he described as a lack of structure in contemporary film production, saying earlier productions stood out because of rigorous procedures, ethics and artistic discipline.

“That hallmark of nostalgia is because it was content, passion, and people sat down and thought through every moment, even from audition to rehearsal to casting. It was very procedural,” he said, adding that contemporary productions often disregard the principles and processes that previously shaped the industry.